Stop Making Entrepreneurship Harder Than It Needs to Be
- Built on YES
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
Why Mindset is the Most Underrated Business Strategy Female Founders Overlook
You don’t need another app, planner, or productivity hack… you need to get out of your own way.
For female founders, solopreneurs, and small business owners, the biggest block to scaling isn’t always the strategy. Sometimes, it’s you. More specifically, it’s the stuff you say to yourself when no one’s listening.
Whether you're calling yourself “just a yoga teacher,” “not a real entrepreneur,” or “not tech-savvy,” these fixed-mindset beliefs are quietly killing your momentum.
This post is your permission slip to stop making your life harder than it needs to be, and start using your mindset as your strongest business tool.
Customer discovery is a startup essential. But here’s the twist: the first problem you solve might be your own assumption.
Instead of spiraling because no one wants to talk to you mid-squat at the gym, take a beat. Set up a freebie table in the lobby. Talk to people after they’ve finished their workout. Suddenly, the problem isn’t your product—it’s your process.
When the Real Block Isn’t Strategy—It’s Self-Talk
June’s theme, Out of Office, Into Intuition, is about stepping away from the noise, especially the internal kind.
Negative self-talk isn’t just emotionally draining. It’s a business liability.
Female founders don’t just struggle with imposter syndrome. Research shows we’re up against:
Comparison traps
Perfectionism
Fear of failure
Devaluing our own work
And a mountain of “shoulds”
👉 Fixed Mindset: “I’ll always just be a [fill in the blank].”
👉 Growth Mindset: “I can develop this skill—even if I’m not there yet.”
Carol Dweck and Albert Bandura weren’t writing for founders specifically, but their research hits home:
Dweck says mindset trumps IQ. (Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck, Ph.D.)
Bandura says belief in your skills matters more than the skills themselves. (Self-Efficacy Theory by Albert Bandura)
Translation: Sara Blakely didn’t need a fashion degree to start Spanx. She needed sales skills and belief.
Real Female Founders Who Rewired Their Thinking
These women didn’t let self-doubt win:
Jamie Kern Lima, IT Cosmetics – kept going when everyone told her no.
Melanie Perkins, Canva – pushed through hundreds of rejections.
Reshma Saujani, Girls Who Code – turned a political loss into a movement for tech inclusion.
Fixed Mindset Red Flags:
“I’m just a [insert label].”
“I’ll never be like her.”
You avoid feedback, delay launching, or only try what you know you’ll crush.
Growth Mindset Signs:
You reframe self-doubt with: “I’m still learning.”
You show up even when you’re not ready.
You replace “should” with “could.”
Mixed answers? Good. That means you’re human and ready to grow.
7 Mindset Strategies to Actually Shift the BS:
Awareness: Catch the thought.
Reframe: “I’m just a ___” → “My ___ skills are a unique asset.”
Affirmations: Short. Honest. Repeatable. (“I got this.” works.)
Self-Compassion: Don’t be a jerk to yourself.
Celebrate Wins: Even the small ones (especially the small ones).
Community Check: Surround yourself with people who get it.
Return to Your WHY: Purpose > perfection.
Ready to Practice?
Pick one fixed belief. Reframe it using your strengths. Repeat it until it becomes your default setting.
This is how you build a resilient business—and an unshakable mindset.
Final Word:
You don’t need to do more to prove you’re a founder. You need to believe more in what you’re already doing.
Say YES to disconnecting from the internal noise. Say YES to mindset as strategy. Say YES to making your business—and life—easier.
You’re courageous.
You’re capable.
You’re strong.
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